Parole Board sticks by decision to parole killer

Thu, Aug 14, 2008 (12:02 p.m.)

Sun archives

Feb. 9 -- Parole denied for two killers
Jan . 8 -- Woman to plead to keep son’s killer in prison for life

CARSON CITY – Despite the plea of an elderly Las Vegas woman, the state Parole Commission is standing by its decision to release a convicted killer who was once sentenced to death.

The board said it considered a “number of factors” in deciding to parole James Allen who fatally shot Tony Sylvester during an attempted burglary in Las Vegas in July 1980.

Sylvester’s 76-year-old mother Hama K. Sylvester had asked the parole commission to reconsider its decision, saying she feared for her life if Allen was released. “Now I will have to look over my shoulder,” she said today. “I will become so stressed.”

The commission said there was a lack of premeditation in the slaying, Allen has made major accomplishments in his 28 years in prison and there were significant comments in support of his release.

The Commission also considered the vote of the state Pardons Board in 2004 to reduce the sentence from life without possibility of parole to life with parole.

Tony Sylvester was fatally shot in his home when he surprised Allen during an attempted burglary. Allen was originally sentenced to death but the Nevada Supreme Court overturned that sentence. He was then sentenced to life without the possibility of parole but the pardons board reduced that.

David Smith, executive director of the parole board, said Allen will be released as soon as his arrangements for life outside prison are approved by the state Parole and Probation Division. Allen will likely be supervised on the outside the rest of his life, said Smith.

Hama Sylvester also wrote Gov. Jim Gibbons, saying she was afraid that Allen would “seek me out and do harm to my family or me.”

Howard Skolnik, director of the state Department of Corrections, said Allen took part in a lot of programs and was a good inmate.

Hama Sylvester said she was informed of the decision by Dorla Salling, chairman of the parole commission. “He (Allen) should have died just as he killed my son,” she said.

Discussion: 8 comments so far…

By geezelouise

8/14/08 at 6:47 p.m.

Suggest removal

Totally amazing. So the parole board sees fit to parole this man, but Russel and Norman Crew still sit in prison???????????????????????

What is wrong with this picture?
By WilliamClarke

8/14/08 at 11:32 p.m.

Suggest removal

As a former corrections officer of 16 years with the State of Nevada, I have had dealings with James Allen and his actions while he served time in the Nevada Department of Corrections.

It is my opinion based upon my observations of James Allen I would consider him a danger to the people of the state of Nevada. Hama K. Sylvester the victims mother knows what she’s talking about. The Parole Board does not.

While working in the NDOC James Allen was written up for forging names staff so the Parole Board of several years ago would look at him differently. On more then one occasion he was sent north but within several days brought back.

James Allen is a clear and present danger to Mrs. Sylvester.
By jfnance32

8/15/08 at 3:34 a.m.

Suggest removal

The jury came him death.

The system frees him.

Hmmmmmmm...and people wonder why we have no faith in our government.

The government spits in the eye of the jury system.
By WilliamClarke

8/15/08 at 6:47 a.m.

Suggest removal

I have no problem with the system. It's the people in the system that is the problem.
By homer

8/15/08 at 12:06 p.m.

Suggest removal

Send him to live with the Govenor, he has the room now.
By JRC

8/16/08 at 12:04 a.m.

Suggest removal

should have been executed years ago.10 to 1 he will be back in trouble with the law again. then
the members of the parole board should be locked
up for the rest of their lives
By LT2LV

8/16/08 at 11:54 a.m.

Suggest removal

I pray for the safety of Mrs. Sylvester and her family. Freeing this monster is a horrible thing to do her.
By wyndanser2

9/27/08 at 9:55 a.m.

Suggest removal

Nevada wake up. This Parole Board and it's chairman are out of control. Inmates for parole review no longer attend hearing, only their so called files are forwarded which in the case I am aware of was totally inaccurate and incomplete. The Parole board met on Sept 10 at 2:00 PM to review 15 inmates. Ironically, at 2:15 PM they were to hold hearings on another 15 inmates. Yes you read it correctly, 30 inmates reviewed for parole in 30 minutes. Now someone tell me, how any program can be tolerated to work this way. The Parole Board is totally incompetent should be held accountable as they are direlect in their duties. Case in point, I viewed 3 inmates statistics. 2 Were released on Parole who according to the Parole Boards own work sheet should never have been approved, yet the third met the parole board standards work sheet and was denied to expiration due to not completing programs required. If the Parole Board would have taken the time to review this file, they would have discovered, all programs were completed satisfactorially, yet, errors committed by the Board keeps the prisons full of those who should be released while those who shouldn't and are repeat offenders are released only to return. Guess the Parole Board along with the Depart. of Corrections have come up with a way to keep over crowding going so they can appropriate more money out of taxpayers to build more prisons while at the same time could care less about the risk to safety they are placing on Nevada TaxPayers. I think it is called a Dart Board separated with Deny/Approval, someone reads out an INmate name and another throws a dart. Nevada wake up, these Parole Board Hearings cannot be conducted in this fashion (30 inmates in 30 minutes) This Parole Board must be placed on restraint to comply with standards that they are totally ignoring. Wake up Nevada, you won't know who is living next to you, yet at the same time, 48.00 per inmate per day you are shelling out for someone who doesn't need to be there.
What a disgrace the State of Nevada has come to.